Hey guys, so I just got my MCAT back and am starting to construct my school list and am looking for some input/help on how best to structure that. I am very interested in applying/going to a T20 school and would specifically like some feedback as to whether/how competitive I am for those schools and which I would have the better shot at? Also if I would be competitive for those, how many would you recommend applying to? I know it can be a crap shoot, I am planning on applying to roughly 40 schools. I did the WARS calculator on this site and it put me in the supreme category but I feel like that could be a little inflated? Finally, I was planning on applying to a couple of DO's but was advised against it due to my MCAT so I would love some input on that as well. I know thats a lot, any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance!
- cGPA 3.94, sGPA 3.89
- MCAT 517 (132/127/128/130)
- Residency: Oregon
- Race/ethnicity: White
- Undergrad: Top 60
- Clinical experience volunteer: 50 hours as hospice aid
- Paid clinical experience: 500 hours as CNA in memory care facility, 900 hours as orderly in PACU at local hospital, 100 hours as liaison for PACU at local hospital
- By time of application will have roughly 400 hours in research lab, 1 poster presentation, possibly a second by the time of application, no pubs
- Shadowing: currently have 30 hours shadowing rural family care doctor, will have roughly 60-75 by time of application with more FM, anesthesiology, and orthopedic surgery
- Non-clinical volunteering: 200 hours as part of 2 year missionary service in Peru (building housing, English classes, food bank, etc); 75 hours volunteering at local foodbank; 200 hours by time of application at community health connect (help connect local uninsured population to donated medical care and accompany patients to their appointments to interpret for them/their doctor, I speak fluent Spanish); 100+ hours by time of application working with Utah chapter of alzheimers association as support group facilitator/community education, currently working on creating the first Spanish-speaking support group in the state of Utah
- Other extracurricular activities: 2.5 years working as TA for gen chem 1 (teach recitation groups, help create class content, etc)
- Relevant honors or awards: deans list, phi eta sigma member, full academic scholarship
- I am fluent in Spanish and will have a minor and certificate of fluency when I graduate. I am also a gerontology minor as part of the research I do in my lab and the experience I had working at a memory care facility with Alzheimers and dementia patients.
